Does anyone use a sort of hide?

[sasquatchphotog]

Curious to know if anyone here uses a portable hide or ghillie suit type setup for wildlife photography.

I've been reading my copy of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Portfolio 22 book (winning/commended images from the 2012 competition), and noted in a few places where photographers have used hides.

I also watched this video from Scott Keys earlier, where he discusses waiting for animals, rather than chasing them.

Obviously one can wait or conceal oneself in and amongst natural features, but curious if people have gear to use when the terrain is not forthcoming (grassland/fields, for example).

 

[MountainMan79]

I’ve seen some pop up hides that look pretty slick, but I’ve stayed cheap. I bought a pair of tiny retractable fishing poles, and some camouflage netting. I secured the netting to the poles with some zip ties, and have a couple spots in the netting slightly cut for a lens to be inserted. The whole rig takes up very little room and I leave it in my trunk. The idea is, I can jab the butt end of the poles into the ground, extend them, and create a small wall essentially that I can lay behind. Nothing fancy for sure, but cost less than $20 to put together.

 

[sasquatchphotog]

I bought a pair of tiny retractable fishing poles, and some camouflage netting. I secured the netting to the poles with some zip ties, and have a couple spots in the netting slightly cut for a lens to be inserted.

That makes a lot of sense - lightweight and inexpensive.

How do you use it? Do you have specific spots that you use it, or is it something you keep on you so that you can set it up quickly if the occasion arises?

 

[MountainMan79]

That makes a lot of sense - lightweight and inexpensive.

How do you use it? Do you have specific spots that you use it, or is it something you keep on you so that you can set it up quickly if the occasion arises?

Pretty much the latter. If I had a regular spot that it made sense to use one, I’d spring for a nicer one.